By Scott Daliosio
(Perris, CA, April 8, 2013) When it comes to most racetracks around the country where the legendary STP World of Outlaws compete, the name “Kinser” sits on top of the all-time victory list. Perris Auto Speedway, “The Southern California Home of Major League Sprint Car Racing,” is no different. However, at most tracks the first name of the “Kinser” topping the win list is “Steve.” That is not the story at Perris as the driver with the most World of Outlaws wins there is Steve’s cousin Mark Kinser. In fact, Steve Kinser has never won a main event at the famous Riverside County clay oval. And, Saturday will probably be his last chance as 2014 will be his final full season of chasing the circuit from one end of the country to the other.
The Outlaws first came to Perris Auto Speedway on November 1st, 1996 and Mark Kinser, who retired from racing in 2006, won the main event. In fact, he won the first five World of Outlaw main events ever staged at the track through Halloween night in 1998. Since then the name Kinser has not appeared on the victory ledger at The PAS again. Johnny Herrera, Craig Dollansky, Danny Lasoski (twice), Darryn Pittman (twice), Kerry Madsen, Joey Saldana and Jason Meyers have all etched their name on the victory list since Mark Kinser’s last triumph.
Over his amazing career, the 59-year-old from Bloomington, Indiana has won an amazing 20 STP World of Outlaws Series Championships. In addition, the racing grandfather, who will turn 60-years-old in less than two months, has won an incredible 577 WoO main events, but none of them have come at The PAS.
“He has been close with some second place finishes,” Perris Auto Speedway promoter Don Kazarian said. “He was leading on the last lap or the next to last lap a few years ago when a lapped car got into him coming off turn two costing him the victory. Needless to say he was not happy and who could blame him? I know as a promoter I am supposed to be impartial, but deep down inside I will be pulling for him on Saturday night.”
Steve Kinser during the February 1988 World of Outlaws race at legendary Ascot Park in Gardena, California. Media please feel free to publish this photo and please give photo credit to Scott Daloisio.
For years Kinser, who won an IROC Race at Talladega 20 years ago against a field that included Dale Earnhardt Sr., Dale Jarrett, Al Unser Jr., Mark Martin, Danny Sullivan and Rusty Wallace, has been known to his legion of fans as the “King of the Outlaws.” This year’s season has been dubbed “Salute to The King” as fans bid the racing legend a fond adieu.
While it may be his farewell season, Kinser has let it be known that he is running for the championship and plans on adding to his already record number of wins on the tour. Thus far he has recorded one win in 2014. That victory came at Valusia Speedway Park in Florida in February in his Tony Stewart owned #11 winged sprint car. Heading into this weekend’s event at The PAS, Kinser is seventh in WoO points with a win, four top five and eight top ten’s in the first 10 races of the 2014 campaign.
“I just hope that sometime during the night the entire crowd gets up and gives Steve Kinser a standing ovation for all he has done for the sport of sprint car racing for more than three decades,” Kazarian said. “It is going to be an emotional night for a lot of people as another driver who raced in Southern California at Ascot is stepping aside. Only a handful of drivers who raced there are still competing today. It is sad to think of him not being here the next time the Outlaws come to town as another racing era is coming to an end.”
Steve Kinser being interviewed by Chris Holt at the 1988 Pacific Coast Open at Ascot. Holt will be interviewing Kinser this Saturday at The PAS. The trophy girl is Kara Hendrick. A resident of Chino, Hendrick was a big Steve Kinser fan. She lost her life in a USAC Midget race at Cajon Speedway in El Cajon three years after this photo was taken. Media please feel free to publish this photo and please give photo credit to Scott Daloisio.
The Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Cars will be joining the Outlaws on this historic night that will see the two groups racing together for the very first time. Also, The PAS Senior Sprint Cars, for drivers 45 and older, will be in action. Advance tickets for Saturday’s “So Cal Sprint Car Spectacular,” which include a free Outlaws spectator pit pass, are available at the following link http://dirtcar.ticketforce.
For more information on The PAS call: (951) 940-0134.
Camping for all events at The PAS is available for $25.00 per night. The campground will open at noon on Friday. Tailgating in the spectator parking lot will begin at 1:00 PM for all PAS events as well.
Perris Auto Speedway wants to thank its corporate sponsors for the 2014 season. 1-800LoanMart, 777 Racecars, All Coast Construction, Amsoil, Ayers Hotel and Spa, BlueLine Rental, Budweiser, CamGuard, Champion Towing, City of Perris, Daytona Boat & RV Storage, Edelbrok, Engine Pro, HD Industries, Hoosier Tires, K&N Engineering, McMahon’s RV, Pep Boys, P.I.P.E., Pepsi-Cola, Pick-A-Part Auto Salvage, Prolong Super Lubricants, Running Waters Hospice, Scott Sales, Shaver Racing Engines, Sprint Car Driving Experience, Square H, Swedish Speed, Trench Shoring, US Foods and Valley Auto Salvage.
To keep up with all of the latest Perris Auto Speedway news, photos, gossip and receive special offers, sign up at The PAS Facebook site at: https://www.facebook.com/
You can also keep up with the latest news and receive special offers from The PAS Twitter site: http://twitter.com/
You can also keep up with the latest news and receive special offers from The PAS Twitter site: http://twitter.com/
Video and DVD productions of all racing events at Perris Auto Speedway are available from Loudpedal Productions. For more information on these productions you can contact them by calling (805) 844-3854, E-mailing mailto:trtruex@gmail.com or you can visit the web site http://www.loudpedalvideo.com/
Fans can participate for free in The PAS 2014 Fantasy League at: http://www.shorttrackin.com/. There are separate divisions for the Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Cars and the Amsoil OilTwins.com PASSCAR classes of Street Stocks, American Factory Stocks and the Modifieds. Players can compete in as many divisions as they like. Prizes will be announced as they come in.
Perris Auto Speedway is located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds (home of October’s Southern California Fair), approximately one hour east of Los Angeles and one hour North of San Diego. To get to the track, take the 215 freeway, exit on the Ramona Expressway and go three miles east to the fairgrounds.
racesatthepas@aol.com is the only authorized Internet address to issue official media news released from The Perris Auto Speedway or Oval Entertainment